scholarly journals KINETIC ENERGY DRIVEN SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, THE ORIGIN OF THE MEISSNER EFFECT, AND THE REDUCTIONIST FRONTIER

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (09) ◽  
pp. 1173-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. HIRSCH
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Spin Current ◽  
Fundamental Property ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Meissner Effect ◽  
Bcs Theory ◽  
Energy Lowering ◽  
Field Lines

Is superconductivity associated with a lowering or an increase of the kinetic energy of the charge carriers? Conventional BCS theory predicts that the kinetic energy of carriers increases in the transition from the normal to the superconducting state. However, substantial experimental evidence obtained in recent years indicates that in at least some superconductors the opposite occurs. Motivated in part by these experiments many novel mechanisms of superconductivity have recently been proposed where the transition to superconductivity is associated with a lowering of the kinetic energy of the carriers. However none of these proposed unconventional mechanisms explores the fundamental reason for kinetic energy lowering nor its wider implications. Here I propose that kinetic energy lowering is at the root of the Meissner effect, the most fundamental property of superconductors. The physics can be understood at the level of a single electron atom: kinetic energy lowering and enhanced diamagnetic susceptibility are intimately connected. We propose that this connection extends to superconductors because they are, in a very real sense, "giant atoms". According to the theory of hole superconductivity, superconductors expel negative charge from their interior driven by kinetic energy lowering and in the process expel any magnetic field lines present in their interior. Associated with this we predict the existence of a macroscopic electric field in the interior of superconductors and the existence of macroscopic quantum zero-point motion in the form of a spin current in the ground state of superconductors (spin Meissner effect). In turn, the understanding of the role of kinetic energy lowering in superconductivity suggests a new way to understand the fundamental origin of kinetic energy lowering in quantum mechanics quite generally. This provides a new understanding of "quantum pressure", the stability of matter and the origin of fermion anticommutation relations, it leads to the prediction that spin currents exist in the ground state of aromatic ring molecules, and that the electron wavefunction is double-valued, requiring a reformulation of conventional quantum mechanics.

scholarly journals KINETIC ENERGY DRIVEN SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (29) ◽  
pp. 2219-2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. HIRSCH
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Expansion ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Superfluid Helium ◽  
Negative Charge ◽  
Negative Thermal Expansion ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Meissner Effect ◽  
Helium 4 ◽  
Λ Point

The theory of hole superconductivity proposes that superconductivity is driven by lowering of quantum kinetic energy and is associated with expansion of electronic orbits and expulsion of negative charge from the interior to the surface of superconductors and beyond. This physics provides a dynamical explanation of the Meissner effect. Here we propose that similar physics takes place in superfluid helium 4. Experimental manifestations of this physics in 4 He are the negative thermal expansion of 4 He below the λ point and the "Onnes effect", the fact that superfluid helium will creep up the walls of the container and escape to the exterior. The Onnes effect and the Meissner effect are proposed to originate in macroscopic zero point rotational motion of the superfluids. It is proposed that this physics indicates a fundamental inadequacy of conventional quantum mechanics.

scholarly journals DOUBLE-VALUEDNESS OF THE ELECTRON WAVEFUNCTION AND ROTATIONAL ZERO-POINT MOTION OF ELECTRONS IN RINGS

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (21) ◽  
pp. 2201-2214 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. HIRSCH
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Aromatic Ring ◽  
Orbital Angular Momentum ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Spin Current ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Persistent Currents ◽  
Ring Molecules ◽  
Point Motion ◽  
Electron Wavefunction

I propose that the phase of an electron's wavefunction changes by π when the electron goes around a loop maintaining phase coherence. Equivalently, that the minimum orbital angular momentum of an electron in a ring is ℏ/2 rather than zero as generally assumed, hence, that the electron in a ring has azimuthal zero point motion. This proposal implies that a spin current exists in the ground state of aromatic ring molecules and suggests an explanation for the ubiquitousness of persistent currents observed in mesoscopic rings.

scholarly journals A MECHANISM FOR ELECTRON PAIR FORMATION

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (14) ◽  
pp. 1167-1177
Author(s):  
TOBIAS VERHULST ◽  
JAN NAUDTS
Keyword(s):  
Binding Energy ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Lattice Model ◽  
Electron Pair ◽  
Spin Current ◽  
Pair Formation ◽  
Eigenvalues And Eigenvectors ◽  
Energy Eigenvalues ◽  
Interacting Electrons

We consider a lattice model in which phonons scatter with pairs of electrons carrying a net spin current. All the energy eigenvalues and eigenvectors of this model can be obtained analytically. For a suitable choice of parameters the ground state consists of a Fermi sea of non-interacting electrons, with a layer of paired electrons on top of it. The binding energy of one electron pair is partly canceled by increased kinetic energy of another pair of electrons. This results in a momentum-dependent gap in the spectrum of the electrons.

scholarly journals Fast Vacuum Fluctuations and the Emergence of Quantum Mechanics

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard ’t Hooft
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Quantum Interference ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Vacuum Fluctuations ◽  
Heavy Particles ◽  
Evolving Systems ◽  
Gedanken Experiment ◽  
Classical Computer

AbstractFast moving classical variables can generate quantum mechanical behavior. We demonstrate how this can happen in a model. The key point is that in classically (ontologically) evolving systems one can still define a conserved quantum energy. For the fast variables, the energy levels are far separated, such that one may assume these variables to stay in their ground state. This forces them to be entangled, so that, consequently, the slow variables are entangled as well. The fast variables could be the vacuum fluctuations caused by unknown super heavy particles. The emerging quantum effects in the light particles are expressed by a Hamiltonian that can have almost any form. The entire system is ontological, and yet allows one to generate interference effects in computer models. This seemed to lead to an inexplicable paradox, which is now resolved: exactly what happens in our models if we run a quantum interference experiment in a classical computer is explained. The restriction that very fast variables stay predominantly in their ground state appears to be due to smearing of the physical states in the time direction, preventing their direct detection. Discussions are added of the emergence of quantum mechanics, and the ontology of an EPR/Bell Gedanken experiment.

VUV FRAGMENTATION OF SOME HYDROFLUOROCARBON CATIONS STUDIED USING COINCIDENCE TECHNIQUES

2002 ◽  
Vol 09 (01) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEIDONG ZHOU ◽  
D. P. SECCOMBE ◽  
R. Y. L. CHIM ◽  
R. P. TUCKETT
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Lone Pair ◽  
Electronic States ◽  
Photoelectron Spectra ◽  
Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital ◽  
Impulsive Model ◽  
Lone Pair Electrons

Threshold photoelectron–photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the decay dynamics of the valence electronic states of the parent cation of several hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), based on fluorine-substituted ethane, in the energy range 11–25 eV. We present data for CF 3– CHF 2, CF 3– CH 2 F , CF 3– CH 3 and CHF 2– CH 3. The threshold photoelectron spectra (TPES) of these molecules show a common feature of a broad, relatively weak ground state, associated with electron removal from the highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) having mainly C–C σ-bonding character. Adiabatic and vertical ionisation energies for the HOMO of the four HFCs are presented, together with corresponding values from ab initio calculations. For those lower-energy molecular orbitals associated with non-bonding fluorine 2pπ lone pair electrons, these electronic states of the HFC cation decay impulsively by C–F bond fission with considerable release of translational kinetic energy. Appearance energies are presented for formation of the daughter cation formed by such a process (e.g. CF 3– CHF +), together with ab initio energies of the corresponding dissociation channel (e.g. CF 3– CHF + + F ). Values for the translational kinetic energy released are compared with the predictions of a pure-impulsive model.

THE ZERO-POINT KINETIC ENERGY OF LIQUID HELIUM

1955 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 797-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Henshaw ◽  
D. G. Hurst
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Neutron Diffraction ◽  
Liquid Helium ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Interatomic Potential ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Potential Functions ◽  
Point Temperature ◽  
Heat Of Vaporization ◽  
Latent Heat Of Vaporization

The zero-point kinetic energy of liquid helium has been calculated from the interatomic potential, the latent heat of vaporization, and atomic distributions derived from neutron diffraction measurements. Calculations were carried out for two liquid temperatures and several published interatomic potential functions. The resulting values of the "zero-point temperature" lie between 9.0°K. and 12.6°K.

Calculation of energy eigenvalues via supersymmetric quantum mechanics

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 931-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco M. Fernández ◽  
Q. Ma ◽  
D. J. DeSmet ◽  
R. H. Tipping
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Potential Energy Function ◽  
Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Energy Eigenvalues ◽  
Arbitrary Power ◽  
Rational Function Approximation ◽  
Ricatti Equation ◽  
Original Potential ◽  
Ground State Energies

A systematic procedure using supersymmetric quantum mechanics is presented for calculating the energy eigenvalues of the Schrödinger equation. Starting from the Hamiltonian for a given potential-energy function, a sequence of supersymmetric partners is derived such that the ground-state energy of the kth one corresponds to the kth eigen energy of the original potential. Various theoretical procedures for obtaining ground-state energies, including a method involving a rational-function approximation for the solution of the Ricatti equation that is outlined in the present paper, can then be applied. Illustrative numerical results for two one-dimensional parity-invariant model potentials are given, and the results of the present procedure are compared with those obtainable via other methods. Generalizations of the method for arbitrary power-law potentials and for radial problems are discussed briefly.

Quantum Mechanics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Manton ◽  
Nicholas Mee
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Variational Principles ◽  
Free Particle ◽  
Uncertainty Relations ◽  
Probabilistic Interpretation ◽  
Historical Account ◽  
Potential Wells ◽  
Harmonic Oscillator Potential ◽  
Ground State Energies

In this chapter, the main features of quantum theory are presented. The chapter begins with a historical account of the invention of quantum mechanics. The meaning of position and momentum in quantum mechanics is discussed and non-commuting operators are introduced. The Schrödinger equation is presented and solved for a free particle and for a harmonic oscillator potential in one dimension. The meaning of the wavefunction is considered and the probabilistic interpretation is presented. The mathematical machinery and language of quantum mechanics are developed, including Hermitian operators, observables and expectation values. The uncertainty principle is discussed and the uncertainty relations are presented. Scattering and tunnelling by potential wells and barriers is considered. The use of variational principles to estimate ground state energies is explained and illustrated with a simple example.

scholarly journals Slingshot prominences: coronal structure, mass loss and spin down

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jardine ◽  
A Collier Cameron ◽  
J-F Donati ◽  
G A J Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Potential Field ◽  
Transient Absorption ◽  
Fundamental Property ◽  
Coronal Magnetic Field ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Cool Gas ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Absorption Features

Abstract The structure of a star’s coronal magnetic field is a fundamental property that governs the high-energy emission from the hot coronal gas and the loss of mass and angular momentum in the stellar wind. It is, however, extremely difficult to measure. We report a new method to trace this structure in rapidly-rotating young convective stars, using the cool gas trapped on coronal field lines as markers. This gas forms “slingshot prominences” which appear as transient absorption features in H-α. By using different methods of extrapolating this field from the surface measurements, we determine locations for prominence support and produce synthetic H-α stacked spectra. The absorption features produced with a potential field extrapolation match well this those observed, while those from a non-potential field do not. In systems where the rotation and magnetic axes are well aligned, up to $50\%$ of the prominence mass may transit the star and so produces a observable feature. This fraction may fall as low as $~2\%$ in very highly inclined systems. Ejected prominences carry away mass and angular momentum at rates that vary by two orders of magnitude, but which may approach those carried by the stellar wind.

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